newel meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

newel

noun

UK /ˈnjuː.əl/ · US /ˈnu.əl/

Etymology Inherited from Middle English nowel, *newel, from Old French noel, from either Early Medieval Latin nōdellus (“buckle”, diminutive of nōdus "knot") or Late Latin nucālis (“nut-like”, derivative of nux "nut"). Doublet of noil and noyau.

› Either of two kinds of supporting post in a…

Architecture A central pillar around which some types of spiral staircase are spiralled.

Architecture A sturdy pillar at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs, supporting the handrail.

We went along the hall to the end and up a flight of stairs with a carved handrail and newel post.1943, Raymond Chandler, The High Window, Penguin, published 2005, page 238:

Derived terms: neweled, newelled

newel

noun

Etymology From new + -el, modelled after novel (“new, original”).

Obsolete A novelty; a new thing.

1882: Edmund Spenser (Alexander Balloch Grosart, ed) The Complete Works in Verse and Prose of Edmund Spenser He was so enamoured with the newel.